Expression GreenExpressing the need for a healthy green lifestyle

Imagine setting out on a cross-country car trip with no itinerary, no maps, no money and no source of help. Jumping in the car, and heading across the country with no direction and no planning may sound like fun (and it might be for awhile), but what happens at the first sign of trouble? Living without a budget is a lot like that car trip.

It may seem easy enough to buy what you want, when you want it, use credit cards to handle those nuisance bills that come along very few months (like car insurance, vehicle tags and registration and even a prescription or two), but what do you do when something big hits? Would you find yourself in serious financial trouble if your income suddenly changed due to layoffs or a career-change; the roof needs to be replaced; or an unexpected baby arrived?

Spending plans, otherwise know as budgets, are just that: a plan for how you handle your money, to better prepare you for all of life’s twists and turns. Most people hate even the thought of budget. Why? Because they have been taught that a budget limits what they can have; what they can do; and what they can spend. Smart financial planners know that the opposite is really true. A good budget can be used to set the stage for financial security, and gives the freedom to spend money on honestly, anything.

Imagine the next time that bi-annual car insurance bill arrives in the mail: you open it, looked at the total and reach for your checkbook, knowing that the entire amount is there, just waiting to be paid. Whew! Sound too easy? It doesn’t have to be. Setting up, and living by, a good budget can free you of the stress and chaos of juggling paychecks and credit cards to meet the bills. It’s a way for consumers to break free from the bondage of debt and have the money for the fun stuff , without the worry of how to pay for it later.

What else can a budget do for you? Here are 5 important benefits of budget-based living:

1: Following A Realistic Budget Helps Free Up Cash For The Fun Stuff.

Budgets aren’t designed to deny the user from doing or having the things that are important to them. Budgets are an excellent tool to help stop wasting funds on little things that you don’t need, but sure can add up! For instance, one smart budgeter realized that if she just bought her favorite soda from the grocery store and took it to work with her instead of buying it from the machine, she could pocket nearly $400.00 a year! She took that soda money and used it for a weekend at her favorite spa! Instead of denying her of her favorite soft drink, her budget simply alerted her to an unnecessary expense, which ultimately allowed her to use that money for something she really wanted, yet didn’t think that she could afford.

2: A Budget Helps You Prepare For Emergencies.

Eventually something big is going to beak and need replaced. It may be a $400 washing machine, or it could be a $20,000 car. Are you ready for the inevitable? Budgets allow the user to see where their money is going, and to help them better equip them to both save for emergencies, and clearly see where changes can be made if an unexpected expense comes up. When Bob was suddenly laid off from his job, he and his wife Nancy had very little saved, but they used their budget figures to immediately see what temporary cuts could be made to get them through a few lean months with very little stress and worry.

3: A Budget Can Both Get You Out of Debt; and Keep You Out Of Debt.

The average American household owes more than $9,000 in credit card debt. That doesn’t even begin to account for the hundreds of thousands of dollars we each carry in additional mortgages, car, and student loans debt. Owing money is an American epidemic. It has even been cited as the #1 reason for divorce in the United States. Creating a budget the whole family can live with, will ease the burden of debt on the American household by teaching everyone in the household how to curb their overspending habits and live a more sensible, and stress-freeing financial life.

4: Budgets Teach Responsibility.

We see in every magazine, on every billboard, and in every commercial: you want it, you deserve it, go get it – no matter what the cost. The instant gratification of American credit has taken a severe toll on our sense of responsibility. After all, we can buy now, and pay later, much later, so who needs to think responsibly? Unfortunately, those bills eventually come due, and many people aren’t ready for them. Budgets help reign in over spenders, and teach them real financial responsibility.

5: A Budget Eases Stress.

Money concerns are a top stress inducer in today’s over indulgent society. It has been reported however, that those who live by a budget experience less stress in their daily lives. Surprisingly, that was true for both minimum wage workers, as well as high-income workers. It didn’t seem to matter how much (or how little), income a household reported, the fact that they knew how to best spend their money seemed to play a significant role in the stress they reported in their overall life.

Creating a budget may seem like an exercise in futility to some, but the statistics are clear: budgets are good for you! What do you have to lose except for a little worry? Try one and see what unexpected benefits you find yourself reaping.

Budgeting isn’t rocket science. But, it does take some preparation, consideration and a healthy dose of reality, combined with a willingness to change some unhealthy spending habits.

There are no hard and fast rules when creating a budget that works for your family. Every family is different; and so is every budget. The key is to create a spending plan that fits your income, and that everyone in your household can live with. Setting stringent spending limits that are impractical or unattainable isn’t going to help get you on the right financial track. Being realistic will. A firm commitment to spend less than you make, and save for the more important things in your life is even better. Take the time to begin the budget process right: with good planning. Here’s how:

1: Keep A List of Every Household Expense for One Month.

Everyone usually has a clear idea of the big bills: mortgage, car loans, and groceries. It’s the little stuff that can kill a budget. Before writing out your first set of budget numbers, it’s first important to know exactly where your money has been going. For one month, record every household expense – no matter how small. You may be surprised at how much those little conveniences and splurges really add up to.

2: Make A Complete List of Spending Areas.

Once you see what you’ve been spending your money on, on a regular basis, it’s time to make a thorough list of household and personal expense categories. Most people find their spending areas include such things as: mortgage/rent; car loans; insurance premiums; utilities; groceries; entertainment; school lunches; clothes; business expenses, etc. Include everything! Those school lunches, manicures and even that morning coffee all add up by the end of the month. Don’t forget less regular bills such as annual car insurance premiums, birthday gifts/parties, summer vacations, holiday outings, field trips, membership dues, magazine subscriptions, and more.

3: Compare Your Expenses To Your Income.

Now comes the hard part: add up all of your expenses and compare it to your NET income (this is your take-home pay after taxes, insurances, 401K contributions, etc.). Many people make the mistake of thinking that if they make $75,000 a year, they can spend $75,000. Wrong! You usually only receive about $55,000 to $60,000 after normal payroll deductions. If you’re like most Americans, your expenses may be much higher than your income. Now what? It’s time to start getting serious.

4: Be Realistic.

Let’s get real here: no one can continually spend more money than they make without serious repercussions. Eventually you won’t be able to juggle the payments anymore, and something won’t get paid. You’re walking a slippery slope headed toward financial ruin, and it’s time to be realistic. Now that you’ve had a chance to clearly see where your money is going ever month, it’s time to start chipping away at all the waste.

Start big or start small: the decision is yours. The goal is to slash as much frivolous waste as possible from your current spending plan. That may mean taking your lunch to work twice a week, and coloring your own hair, or it may mean selling your second car and taking the train to work. The severity of the things you’re forced to give up depends on how much overspending leeway you’ve been allowing your family.

5: Together Come Up With A New Spending Plan.

Once you’ve cut out all of the things you know you can do without, it’s time to prioritize your spending list to see what else can go. List the most important life expenses first: your house or apartment; food; health insurance; car costs; school fees; etc. As you move further down the list, add entertainment; eating out; taking the kids to an amusement park; summer pool fees.

You know, all the things you think you need, but may be able to do without. Now, if you’re expenses remain higher than your income, its time to start condensing and cutting from the bottom of this list. Sure, having a pool in the backyard may be great, but if you both work, and the kids are at summer camp all day, is the cost of its upkeep really worth being in debt? Or, would that money be better spent in some other category? How about fast food? If your family is spending more than $100 a month eating out, it may be time to reevaluate why you’re not cooking a home.

Are your kids involved in too many extracurricular activities, not leaving you the time to cook and eat in? Or have you just allowed yourselves the luxury of easy dinners so long they now feel like a necessity? Now’s the time for you to discuss, as a family, what is really important. If eating out three times a week is more important than going to the movies on Saturdays, or going on that beach vacation, so be it. That’s your choice. Just remember, that every expense has an impact on your financial future.

Looking at your finances with open eyes and a new attitude won’t be easy. Changing your spending habits will be even harder. But, establishing a solid budget, and learning to live within your means may make the difference between a life filled with financial struggles and stress, and a worry-free existence that allows you to spend money on the important things with little or no angst at all.

Are you worried about your job performance? Perhaps you have found your mood changing up and down like the stock market. In these tough times you can beat the odds and turn your fortunes around in a very simple way – pick up the weight loss challenge. Effective exercises, healthy diet foods and some Acai Berry top weight loss supplements should do an excellent job.

I have found that self-motivation is my best assurance and guarantee to success. When the stakes are high, it becomes easy to accomplish what was an otherwise daunting task. And believe me, the stakes are high! Even the politicians and Wall Street bankers seem to agree on this one. This is the best time to step up and demonstrate both superior performance and a peaceful focused attitude. Here are five simple steps to change your situation immediately:-

1. Get physically active. First, effective weight loss exercises should build your muscles and burn calories. Try a combination of cardio and strength exercises. Simple things like short sprints for cardio and weight lifting or push ups for strength will get you started on the right path.

2. Secondly, whether in the office or at home, avoid sitting continually for more than one hour. Stand, stretch and stroll briefly to relax muscles. You can sit straight and move your head up and down or side ways to reduce tension in your neck and arms.The effective exercises will increase blood flow to the head which results in better performance of your brain. It also triggers feel good chemicals while reducing stress causing hormones.

3. Regarding foods, skip the fatty foods, manufactured foods and high carbohydrate diets. Instead go for healthy diet foods consisting of healthy and nutritious fresh natural produce such as vegetables and fruits. This will stabilize your blood sugar and your mood too!

4. Also some fats like oils from fish and plants are rich in essential chemicals and vitamins necessary in healthy diet foods for top performance. The chemicals produce a calming effect leading to a better and stable mood.

5. Since our food production system is highly commercialized, it is increasingly difficult to get truly healthy diet foods. You don’t have to live with deficiency – simply add Acai Berry top weight loss supplements to your diet. This will help you improve metabolism and fat oxidation. The Acai berry is a super food loaded with essential nutrients and traditionally used for weight loss. Acai Berry Select supplement formulation has additional nutrients added from green tea for top performance.

Remember that for excellent results, things work better when you adopt a broad based approach that may require some lifestyle changes. For instance a lonely and idle person is likely to comfort themselves by taking more food. So get busy, look for healthy diet foods and start on the simple exercises and I guarantee you, it is going to be great fun.

How is that for performance enhancement with no external stimulus? Physical and mental fitness is a sure winner. You can take positive steps and change your life for better quite easily starting today

In most people’s quest to lose belly fat it usually starts will lots of crunches, then maybe some reverse crunches and possibly even more crunches to really feel that “burn”. It doesn’t matter how many crunches you do if you are still eating cheeseburgers, fries, pizza and other types of junk food. What you eat is so important in the quest to slim down.

What foods should you eat in order to lose weight? With all the fad diets, weight loss pills that magically melt away the pounds while you sit in your favorite recliner and other nonsense it can be very confusing as to what proper nutrition is.

Let’s clear through the clutter and give you a starting point to healthy eating.

·       Fruits and Vegetables: Rich in vitamins, antioxidants and fiber, they make the perfect snack. So instead of reaching for those Doritos to snack on, grab a handful of grapes or an apple.

·       Protein: As the building block of your muscles, protein is an important part of your diet. When choosing what proteins to eat, look for lean proteins like chicken breasts, tuna fish, turkey or egg whites.

·       Water: Staying hydrated is very important to your weight loss goals. It should be an important part of your daily routine anyway; most people don’t know just how much water they lose throughout the day. The usual guideline is to drink eight glasses of water throughout the day, although you may want to drink more if your exercise intensely.

·       Complex carbs: Complex carbs like whole wheat bread are a necessary for healthy nutrition. By breaking down in slowly in your body, complex carbs help keep you full and energized for longer periods of time.

·       Good fats: Almonds, seeds, olive oil, avocados and nuts are all excellent sources of “good fat”.

You can change to a more healthy way of eating and it’s not as hard as you think, as long as you have a plan of action laid out for you.

Green tea was first cultivated in China about 5,000 years ago. Because of its history, drinking tea is usually associated with the mystical Far East! Ancient sages knew about the potent health benefits of tea and integrated drinking tea as part of their rituals and ceremonies.Drinking Green Tea has become more popular in America because recent research is helping to confirm Green Tea’s potential positive affects on our health. Our diet and lifestyle, the convenience of processed foods, and fat-saturated take-outs have generally resulted in poor health and related diseases like heart disease and cancer. These diseases are continually on the rise each year. In such a context, Green Tea stands out as a promising health booster.Green Tea for HealthResearch indicates the kind of diet Americans thrive on increases free radical activity in the body caused by oxidation. Oxidative stress caused by an increase in free radical activity is thought to be one of the major cause factors of diseases. Green tea antioxidants are rich in polyphenols which act on free radicals thus disarming them of their harmful activity in our bodies. Research on Green tea antioxidants and its effects on our bodies has shown positive results, and while more research is required to make conclusive statements, experts generally agree that green tea antioxidants can help in promoting good health and reduce the risk of getting certain diseases. Green Tea is available in today’s market in a variety of forms, and preferences.

1. Dried Tea Leaves: In a tea pot put a few spoons of dried leaves at the bottom. Boil water and pour over the tea leaves. Allow it to steep for 5 – 15 minutes depending on how strong you like your brew. The longer you keep it steeped, the stronger the brew.
2. Green Tea Pills. If you don’t like the taste of tea, you don’t need to miss out on its health benefits. Green Tea pills will give you all the benefits of naturally brewed tea leaves.
3. Green Tea Gum: This is good for people who like to chew gum. Green tea gum provide all the antioxidants contained in tea leaves.
4. Green Tea Drops. This is a concentrated green tea product offering a more potent amount of antioxidants and nutrients. Taking Green Tea Drops regularly will make sure you get your required dose of green tea antioxidants for the day. An excellent product is Green Tea Plus. Green Tea Plus is all natural and also contains 72 trace elements essential to good nutrition.

Five Ways to Use Green Tea Drops

• For people on the go, Green Tea Drops can be added to bottled water. Drink it as you would normal water. This is a quick and easy way to use Green Tea Drops.
• Add Green Tea Drops to your favorite soft drink or juice. Just two drops of Green Tea extract can make your juice or soft drink tastier and help provide good health. Try it with a cold glass of lemonade!
• Green Tea Drops can also be used to add flavor to a hot or cold cup of cocoa. Chocolate and tea make a great combination!
• Green Tea Drops can also be used as an essence in cakes. Instead of the usual vanilla essence, try adding a few drops of Green Tea Drops!
• Mix Green Tea Drops in your custard, or in bread pudding for unique flavor and health. Or try it in other desserts like apple pie. Mix it with the apple mixture when you’re baking apple pie.

NOTE: Green Tea Drops are very concentrated and so can taste a little strong, so be sure to dilute it before using.For more reading on the health benefits of green tea refer to:

• The US Department of Health and Human Services in an article dated November 20, 2007 states a new study conducted by the Purdue University suggests, “Adding citrus juices or vitamin C to green tea may raise its antioxidant goodness.” http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docid=610139
• The National Center for Biotechnology Information, (a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health) states: “The epicatechin derivatives, commonly called polyphenols, present in green tea possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. The major and most highly chemopreventive constituent in green tea responsible for the biochemical or pharmacological effects is (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12871030.